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π Three-Domain System
The three-domain system is a biological classification introduced by Carl Woese et al. in 1990 that divides cellular life forms into archaea, bacteria, and eukaryote domains. In particular, it emphasizes the separation of prokaryotes into two groups, originally called Eubacteria (now Bacteria) and Archaebacteria (now Archaea). Woese argued that, on the basis of differences in 16S rRNA genes, these two groups and the eukaryotes each arose separately from an ancestor with poorly developed genetic machinery, often called a progenote. To reflect these primary lines of descent, he treated each as a domain, divided into several different kingdoms. Woese initially used the term "kingdom" to refer to the three primary phylogenic groupings, and this nomenclature was widely used until the term "domain" was adopted in 1990.
Parts of the three-domain theory have been fiercly challenged by scientists such as Radhey S. Gupta, who argues that the primary division within prokaryotes should be between those surrounded by a single membrane, and those with two membranes.
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- "Three-Domain System" | 2020-03-28 | 65 Upvotes 16 Comments
π Rule of Three (Computer Programming)
Rule of three ("Three strikes and you refactor") is a code refactoring rule of thumb to decide when similar pieces of code should be refactored to avoid duplication. It states that two instances of similar code don't require refactoring, but when similar code is used three times, it should be extracted into a new procedure. The rule was popularised by Martin Fowler in Refactoring and attributed to Don Roberts.
Duplication is considered a bad practice in programming because it makes the code harder to maintain. When the rule encoded in a replicated piece of code changes, whoever maintains the code will have to change it in all places correctly.
However, choosing an appropriate design to avoid duplication might benefit from more examples to see patterns in. Attempting premature refactoring risks selecting a wrong abstraction, which can result in worse code as new requirements emerge and will eventually need to be refactored again.
The rule implies that the cost of maintenance certainly outweighs the cost of refactoring and potential bad design when there are three copies, and may or may not if there are only two copies.
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- "Rule of Three" | 2023-08-30 | 19 Upvotes 22 Comments
- "Rule of Three (Computer Programming)" | 2020-02-02 | 20 Upvotes 10 Comments
π Can't Get You Out of My Head
Can't Get You Out of My Head: An Emotional History of the Modern World is a six-part BBC documentary television series created by Adam Curtis. It was released on BBC iPlayer on 11 February 2021.
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- "Can't Get You Out of My Head" | 2021-11-04 | 127 Upvotes 44 Comments
π Agloe, New York
Agloe is a fictional hamlet in Colchester, Delaware County, New York, that became an actual landmark after mapmakers made up the community as a phantom settlement, an example of a "copyright trap" and similar to a trap street. Agloe was put onto the map in order to catch plagiarism as it appears only on their map and not on any others. Soon, using fictional "copyright traps" became a typical strategy in mapmaker design to thwart plagiarism. Agloe was known as a "paper town" because of this.
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- "Agloe, New York" | 2015-10-03 | 101 Upvotes 17 Comments
π Project One (San Francisco)
An important part of the counterculture of the 1970s, Project One, sometimes described as a technological commune, was an intentional community in San Francisco, California, U.S. Located at 1380 Howard St. in an 84,000 square foot warehouse, formerly an abandoned candy factory, the community functioned from 1970 to 1980 and was the first "warehouse community" in San Francisco. Occupied by a shifting mix of students, craftspeople, artisans, sculptors, filmmakers, and technologists, Project One was anchored by a number of organizations.
The community had no formal organizational structure. Decisions were made through a voluntary weekly meeting of members who made decisions based on a consensus of those present.
Project One was initiated by architect Ralph Scott, a former student of Buckminster Fuller, and rapidly became an interdisciplinary learning environment. Central to the concept was Symbas Alternative High School, founded by Scott and located in a large, high-ceiling space on the first floor. Many of these resident non-profit organizations and small businesses were brought in to serve as resources for the students, who were also members of the larger community. Students found mentors who offered skills training and the opportunities to practice new skills. See also community of place.
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- "Project One (San Francisco)" | 2022-11-26 | 34 Upvotes 8 Comments
π Bernoulli Family
The Bernoulli family (German pronunciation: [bΙΚΛnΚli]) of Basel was a patrician family, notable for having produced eight mathematically gifted academics who, among them, contributed substantially to the development of mathematics and physics during the early modern period.
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- "Bernoulli Family" | 2023-06-17 | 22 Upvotes 5 Comments
π Wikipedia: Long-Term Abuse
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- "Wikipedia's LTA (Long Term Abuse) List" | 2025-04-29 | 30 Upvotes 2 Comments
- "Wikipedia: Long-Term Abuse" | 2022-07-17 | 195 Upvotes 86 Comments
π Airbus Beluga XL
The Airbus Beluga XL (Airbus A330-743L) is a large transport aircraft based on the Airbus A330 airliner. The aircraft entered service with Airbus Transport on 9 January 2020 to replace the Airbus Beluga in the movement of oversized aircraft components, for example wings. The Beluga XL made its first flight on 19 July 2018, and received its type certification on 13 November 2019.
It made its first operational flight on January 9, 2020, and by January 20, had entered full-time service.
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- "Airbus Beluga XL" | 2019-12-16 | 99 Upvotes 64 Comments
π Possible citogenesis concerning whether MtGox ever hosted an MtG trading site
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- "Possible citogenesis concerning whether MtGox ever hosted an MtG trading site" | 2014-02-16 | 75 Upvotes 42 Comments